Have you noticed how much stronger caramel tastes when you add salt to it (aka salted caramel)? The same happens when you add olive oil to dark chocolate. It results in a flavor much stronger and nuttier with a strong aftertaste.

Since both olive oil (talking about pure extra virgin olive oil), and chocolate have a slight bitterness to them, they blend very well together.
As for this Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake, it's so sinfully delicious that it managed to survive no more than 12 hours in my fridge. Everyone truly enjoyed it. But what I enjoyed even more, is the fact that I didn't have to put any real effort into making it (you know how cakes can be like).
Other than the fact that you will have to melt some chocolate, the rest of the procedure is super easy. And as for the chocolate you can easily melt it in your microwave if you don't want to put on a double boiler.
How To Make A Moist Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
First Things First... The Right Way To Melt Chocolate
Put on a double boiler, by placing a small cooking pot half-filled with water, over medium heat. The water should get steamy hot, but without simmering or boiling. Place a bowl on top, that fits the size of the pot (without it touching the water) and place the chocolate (cut into small pieces) in it. Stir using a pastry spatula until all of the chocolate melts.
Or turn your microwave's temperature to medium, place chocolate in a microwave-proof bowl, and melt it (takes about 1 minute and a half). Make sure you stir the chocolate every 30-40 seconds so it won't burn on the sides.
To Make The Cake Batter...
Beat the eggs using an electric mixer until thick and foamy. Do this by adding the sugar gradually to them. When you add the sugar all at once, the eggs will get foamy on top and remain liquid at the bottom. Then mix the honey and olive oil into the melted chocolate. Stir this mixture into the eggs. With a pastry spatula, stir in the flour gently, and not all at once. Then add the ground almonds as well.
I used whole raw almonds, that I didn't skin or toast just blended until very smooth. Because this cake is a health-ish one with all the dark chocolate and olive oil it contains. Did you know that most of the powerful antioxidants that almonds contain are concentrated on their skin? Read more about the health benefits of almonds here.
And once your cake batter is ready, use a round spring foam cake pan and bake at a temperature of 160°C / 320°F, for about 30-35 minutes. The cake will still remain a bit moist in the center so if you prick with a knife test it more on the sides to check if it's done.
Serve It Hot Or Cold...
You can either serve this cake hot (similar to a lava cake) with a scoop of ice cream and the chocolate glaze that's given in this recipe, as a hot sauce on top. Or let it cool until it gets to room temperature, coat with the dark chocolate olive oil glaze and refrigerate until cool. In the hot version the flavor of olive oil will be stronger. While in its cold version the chocolate flavor will be the one that stands out. My personal favorite? The cold version. 😄
Recipe
Moist Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
Ingredients
For The Chocolate Cake:
- 4 eggs
- 200 grams / 7 oz sugar
- 300 grams / 10.6 oz dark chocolate
- 160 ml olive oil pure extra virgin
- 100 grams / 3.5 oz honey
- 180 grams / 6.3 oz all-purpose flour
- 100 grams / 3.5 oz whole almonds
For The Chocolate Glaze:
- 80 grams / 2.8 oz dark chocolate
- 20 grams / 0.7 oz olive oil
Instructions
- Add the almonds to a blender and blend very finely, until they look almost like powder. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F.
- Using an electric mixer beat eggs over high speed and add the sugar in bits at a time. Beat until eggs get thick and foamy.
- Melt the 300 grams of dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave for 1 minute and a half on medium heat (stir every 30 seconds).
- Pour the olive oil and honey in the melted chocolate, and then into the eggs while you stir with a pastry spatula.
- Stir in the flour gently adding it in bits at a time. Then stir in the almonds as well.
- Grease a round spring foam cake pan (9-inch / 23 cm) and bake for 30-35 minutes. The cake will remain moist in the center. Prick on the sides to check if its baked.
- Melt the chocolate for the glaze again in the microwave or in a double boiler. Stir in the olive oil using a pastry or wooden spoon.
- To serve the cake warm: cut a piece directly from the pan, and pour the warm glaze on top. You may also serve with ice cream or whipped cream as well.
- To serve the cake cold: let the cake reach room temperature. Then remove from the pan and place on a serving plate by turning the cake gently, upside down. Pour the warm chocolate glaze all over and spread it evenly with a spoon. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting and serving.
Nutrition
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Looks delicious! Do you recommend a certain type of dark chocolate?
Thanks and we will look forward to making this!
Jamie
Thank you Jamie. Any type of bittersweet or semi-sweet will do, with a cocoa percentage of 60 % and up.